Middlesex in the Community were thrilled today to announce that England 2005 Ashes legend, Simon Jones MBE, has become the Club’s Disability Cricket Ambassador. In the role, Jones will champion the work that Middlesex in the Community is doing in disability sport, lending his support and voice to aid future growth and development of the programme.
In addition, he will also be giving his time to work with the fast bowlers in the disability programme, coaching them on their skills to help further develop their games.
Swansea-born Jones, 45, carved out a domestic playing career over a decade-and-a-half, beginning at his home county of Glamorgan in 1998, followed by stints at Worcestershire and Hampshire, before returning home to Cardiff – finishing his career back at Glamorgan in 2013.
He made his Test debut for England in 2002 against India before suffering an agonising knee injury on the opening day of England’s Ashes series down under in 2002, rupturing the cruciate ligament in his right knee when sliding to field a ball on the boundary in Brisbane.
Jones topped England’s bowling averages in the historic 2005 series
Overcoming that horrific injury, he regained his place in the England Test side and starred in the legendary and triumphant Ashes campaign of 2005 on home soil. His 6/53 at Old Trafford was bettered only by the late Shane Warne’s 7/46 at Edgbaston, he finished top of England’s bowling averages with 18 wickets at just 21 and was the second leading wicket taker behind Andrew Flintoff despite playing one less Test, making his final appearance with the three Lions on his chest in England’s crucial victory at Trent Bridge.
Since his playing days ended, Jones has remained in the game, in a coaching capacity, and now works in a business development role in the insurance sector for Kerry London.
On Simon Jones becoming the Club’s Disability Cricket Ambassador, the Club’s Disability Head Coach, Andy Hill, commented: “To have secured someone of Simon’s stature and reputation in the game as the Club’s Disability Cricket Ambassador is fantastic news for Middlesex in the Community. I have known Simon for the best part of a decade now and he is hugely encouraged by the work that we are doing in our disability programme and has a passion to see it grow and thrive and help promote what the Club is doing”
Middlesex are, not surprisingly, hugely exited to have such an iconic figure on board and Hill enthused that “he is a wonderful inspiration to the cricketers we have in the group and has already given a huge amount of his time to the playing group, working closely with our fast bowlers, which they will benefit enormously from. Having someone like Simon as an Ambassador to help promote disability cricket across the county can only be a good thing, and we’re really looking forward to working closely with him moving forwards.”
Simon Jones was equally happy saying “I’m extremely proud to have been appointed as Middlesex in the Community’s Disability Cricket Ambassador. This is a unique opportunity for me to be able to personally support the development of their disability sport programme and to enjoy time working with the club’s fast bowlers.”
